Zenith Aircraft Building Workshop Returns to Southwest Texas in February 2024

• Register for the Texas Workshop class (Class is full. Please call to be placed on wait list)
  Visitors are welcome to come by to observe the rudder workshop class and to participate at the Zenith gathering on Saturday morning even if not a registered for the workshop class.

Zenith Aircraft Company is returning to Texas with its popular hands-on workshop, to Boerne (pronounced "Bernie"), just north of San Antonio. The workshop will be held February 23 & 24, 2024.
The workshop will begin on Friday morning, February 23rd, inside a spacious private hangar at Boerne Stage Airfield (5C1).

Zenith Aircraft’s hands-on workshops are primarily for first-time kit airplane builders and have become popular with sport aviation enthusiasts who are considering to build their own aircraft and are unsure if they have the required skills, workspace and tools. During the workshop each participant builds and assembles their own Zenith aircraft rudder tail section from a standard Zenith kit. The two-day workshop concludes once participants have successfully completed assembly of their own rudder tail section of the aircraft.
In the process of building the rudder assembly, participants tackle many activities including learning how to read drawings (blueprints) and work with assembly instructions (manuals) under the expert guidance of factory staff. They learn the procedures for putting together an aircraft assembly, including drilling and blind riveting. In the end, they have an assembled rudder that is ready to install on a Zenith kit airplane.

“The rest of the kit is constructed the same way as the rudder, using the same tools,” said Heintz. “Participants get far more out of the workshop than just a finished aircraft rudder: they go home with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to build their own airplane. Most importantly, they learn that kit building is enjoyable and something that can engage the whole family. Many of our prospective builders bring their spouses or other family member, who often encourage them to move forward with the rest of the kit. With modern technology, such as final hole size CNC match drilled parts, and good instructions, aircraft construction has become much easier than most people think.”

The hands-on workshop is an excellent way to learn about building your own (amateur-built) kit airplane and about the many advantages of owning and flying an airplane that you’ve built yourself. Kit aircraft is a segment of general aviation that is growing (while much of general aviation activities continue to decline year over year). For many, building an aircraft is a very rewarding experience, and today’s modern kits make it easier and quicker to build than even before.
Standard workshop fees are $375.00 (or $425 for the CH 750 Super Duty model) and include the complete rudder kit for a Zenith aircraft. Additional helpers are encouraged to attend and can participate for free. To learn more about the workshop program, visit zenithair.com or call Zenith Aircraft directly: (573) 581-9000 (Mon – Fri, 8 – 5 Central). Space is limited, and prior registration is required for the rudder workshop. Click here to register for the February workshop in Texas. Zenith Aircraft's Sebastien Heintz and Roger Dubbert plan to attend the workshop.

Zenith builders, pilots and enthusiasts are invited to attend and visit the workshop. See y'all there!

This event is graciously hosted once again by Zenith builder/pilot Bill Fahey, as well as Mark Ogden and Jaime Pujol (of Texas Precision Engraving) who are providing their hangar that will provide the workshop space.
Contact Bill Fahey with any questions about the location, facilities, and surrounding area: Telephone: 210-632-4708

All Zenith aircraft builders, flyers and enthusiasts are invited to fly-in or drive in on both Friday and Saturday to Boerne Stage Airfield where we will be hosting an informal Zenith fly-in and build gathering.

Zenith Aircraft's Sebastien Heintz and Roger Dubbert will attend the Texas workshop. Zenith builders, pilots and enthusiasts are invited to attend and participate at an informal Saturday Zenith fly-in gathering at Boerne Stage Airfield (5C1). All Zeniths are invited to fly in for the day’s activities, and Zenith enthusiasts and current builders are invited to drive in or fly in to attend. Check out the Facebook event page or details and updates, and share the link with your friends.

Note also that Zenith will be traveling to SW Texas in the Zenith cargo van (for the February workshop event) and can arrange to deliver kits to customers along the way as it travels from the kit factory in central Missouri. Let us know if we can deliver a kit or component kit to you on the way to Texas! (Subject to availability and space.)

Watch the video from the 2023 Texas Workshop | Watch the video from the 2022 Texas Workshop